Anthurium plant named Dolly

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Anthurium plant named `Dolly` particularly characterized by its large, round, thick, reflexed or cupped bright orange spathes with a contrasting yellow-orange spadix. The spathes are held straight above the foliage in the center of the plant. The leaves of Dolly are large, wide, stiff, leathery, moderately thick, with distinctive puckering along the midrib.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofAnthurium, botanically known as Anthurium scherzerianum, and referred toby the cultivar name `Dolly`.

The new cultivar is a product of a breeding program carried out by theinventor Renate Plate in Bremen, Germany. The new cultivar Dolly is theresult of aa cross of selected but presently unknown parentage made bythe inventor in Bremen, Germany. The new cultivar was discovered fromthe progeny of the stated cross by the inventor. Asexual propagation bytissue culture done under the supervision of the inventor in Bremen,Germany was used to increase the number of plants for evaluation and hasdemonstrated the stability of the combination of characteristics of thenew cultivar from generation to generation.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Apopka, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in horticultural practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed to be characteristicswhich is combination distinguish `Dolly` from other Anthuriumscherzerianum cultivars and from the patented cultivar `Shazzam`,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,169.

1. Plants of `Dolly` produce large, round, thick, bright orange spatheswhich are often reflexed or cupped, and puckered. The spadix is acontrasting yellow-orange. Plants of `Shazzam`, by comparison, producemore elliptical, red-orange spathes which are of thinner substance.

2. Unlike `Shazzam`, spathes of `Dolly` are held above the foliage inthe center of the plant on thick, sturdy orange peduncles.

3. The spathes of `Dolly` are orange when newly open and lighten incolor with age. The spadix becomes twisted with age.

4. The leaves of `Dolly` are large, wide, stiff, leathery, moderatelythick, with distinctive puckering of the leaf blade along the midrib.Leaves of `Shazzam`, by comparison, are smaller, thinner, and moreflexible.

All color references are measured against The Royal HorticulturalSociety Color Chart. Colors are approximate as color depends onhorticultural practices such as light level and fertilization rate,among others, without, however, any change in genotype.

The color photographic drawing comprises a top perspective view of theinflorescence and foliage of a plant of `Dolly` in a 15.2 cm pot. Thephotograph was taken approximately 11 months after planting a 16 weekold liner obtained by tissue culture and grown under appropriate growingconditions. Colors are as accurate as possible with color illustrationsof this type.

Origin: Seedling of selected parentage.

Classification: Anthurium scherzerianum, cv, `Dolly`.

Propagation: Asexual production by tissue culture.

Inflorescence

Immature.--The spathe is tightly rolled around the spadix and emergesfrom the petiole sheath. The spathe is fully open when the pedicel isfully elongated, approximately 18 cm to 22 cm above the soil surface.The color of the peduncle is greener than, but closest to 166 B, oftenbecoming orange 41 A near the base of the spathe.

Color.--Immature: Upper surface: Glossy 43 A. Lower surface: Very glossy43 A. Mature: Upper surface: Matte 44 C. Lower surface: Glossy 39 B.

Arrangement.--The spathes stand up straight on thick sturdy pedunclesand open above the leaves at about the center of the plant.

Shape.--The spathe is round with a cordate base, with the lobes of thespathe often overlapping, and a cuspidate apex that is hooked ortwisted. It is distinctly cupped when new and puckered, and oftenreflexed with age. The spathes are approximately 9.5 cm to 11.2 cm inlength, approximately 10.5 cm to 13 cm in width, and approximately 2.5cm in depth if cupped. The spathes are equally as likely to reflex andbecome cupped outwardly.

Flowering time.--After approximately 11 months from a 16 week old linerfrom an untreated plant having three growing points as illustrated inthe photograph, and depending on season, approximately 3 to 5inflorescenses will be present. First flowers (2 to 3) can be expectedapproximately 4 months after planting a 16 week old liner.

Reproductive organs:

Spadix.--Size: Approximately 7.0 cm to 8.2 cm in length andapproximately 8 mm in width. The spadix is straight when the spathefirst unrolls, but quickly becomes twisted as the spathe opens fully.Color: The spadix is 32 A, 33 A when new, and 26 A when fully emerged.Stamens: Anthers and filaments are minute, and not clearly visible.Pollen: 158 D in color. Pistil: Translucent 19 C in color, protrudingbetween the staminate flowers, firmly fixed to the main axil. Thepistilate flowers extend approximately 0.5 mm beyond the staminateflowers.

General appearance: Under appropriate growing conditions, Dolly attainsa mature size of approximately 18.5 cm to 20 cm in height andapproximately 45 cm to 49 wcm in width.

Leaves:

Form.--The leaf blade is broadly ovate with a cuspidate to acute apexand a cordate base. The margins are entire. The midrib is straight overthe length of the leaf. The leaf blade is distinctly puckered, andfolded upward from the midrib. The leaf margin is generally straight,but often curved downward. The upper leaf surface is slightly glossy,more so on newly emerged leaves. The leaves are stiff, leathery, andmoderately thick.

Size.--Leaf blades of a mature sized plant are approximately 18 cm to22.0 cm in length and approximately 18 cm to 22.0 cm in length andapproximately 10.5 cm to 12.5 cm in width.

Veins.--Veins are sunken, and the leaf blade is often distinctlypuckered or concave between veins. The midrib protrudes from the uppersurface of the leaf for the length of the leaf. Primary veins border theperimeter of the leaf.

Petiole.--The petiole is approximately 9.8 cm to 12.5 cm in height fromthe base of the petiole to the base of the leaf blade. The petiole isapproximately 4.0 mm in diameter just below the geniculum, and straight.Two parallel ridges run the length of the upper surface of the petiole.

Petiole wings.--Petiole wings are approximately 2.0 cm to 2.8 cm inlength and approximately 5.0 mm in width at their midpoint. The tips ofthe petiole wings taper to a rounded point. There is approximately 7.9cm to 9.1 cm between the top of the wing and the base of the geniculum.

Geniculum.--The geniculum is approximately 10 mm in length and 7 mm indiameter. The color is 145A.

Lobes.--The leaf has two rounded lobes which extend past the petiole.The distance from the petiole/leaf juncture to the highest point on thelobes is approximately 3.0 cm.

Color.--Upper surface: 137 A. Lower surface: 146 C D. Midrib, uppersurface: 146 B. Midrib, lower surface: 145 C, Petiole: 146 B C. PetioleWing: 137 A.

Roots: Greenish fleshy roots with fine laterals. The roots are 187 A incolor when located above the soil.

General observation: Anthurium `Dolly` produces large, round, thick,puckered, reflexed or cupped bright orange spathes with a contrastingyellow-orange spadix. The inflorescenses are held straight above theleaves in the center of the plant on thick, sturdy orange peduncles. Theleaves are large, wide, stiff, very leathery, with distinctive puckeringalong the midrib.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named `Dolly`, as illustrated and described. 